Gen. Tom Hobbins, head of US Air Forces in Europe, is not at all worried that his command has dropped some 600 fighters and nearly 50,000 personnel since the 1990s. The Daily Press of Hampton Roads, Va., reports that, during a stop at Langley AFB, Va., on Monday, Hobbins said that the USAFE reductions are offset, in part, by the growth of NATO, which has increased from 16 to 26 countries.
Lawmakers are growing impatient for an overdue fighter recapitalization study from the Air Force, and members say they'll demand more detailed justifications for future aircraft retirements.